Headlines about police brutality have recently been splattered all
over the Belize media. A recent allegation regarding this type of
brutality in San Pedro has led to a local investigation by the Belize
Police Force Internal Affairs Division. In order to clarify this
matter, San Pedro's Officer-in-Charge Sergeant James Moreira very
graciously sat down with The San Pedro Sun to set the record straight.
The following was the information given by Sergeant Moreira with
regards to the allegations of police brutality upon Denfield Williams
who, sadly, passed away on Saturday, February 7th, 2004 at the Karl
Heusner Memorial Hospital.
According to Sergeant Moreira, the late Denfield Williams, 32,
laborer of San Pablo Area, San Pedro Town, was arrested and charged on
October 4th, 2003 for possession of controlled drugs. He was taken to
court where he pled guilty to the charge and was ordered to pay a fine
for the said crime. By November of the same year, when it was learned
that Denfield Williams had not paid his fine, a warrant for his arrest
was issued. While conducting a patrol on December 12th, 2003, San Pedro
Police Constable McCulloch and Tourism Policeman Sutherland recognized
Denfield Williams who, upon seeing the police officers, ran into the
nearby bushes. The police pursued and eventually apprehended Williams,
who was taken to the police station. Sergeant Moreira stated he was
present when Williams arrived at the station and did not observe any
signs of police brutality or physical injuries.
Denfield Williams was then told why he was being arrested (for
fines owed to the court). The man later escaped from police custody.
The following day, on December 13th, 2003, Mr. Roberto Guerrero
(Williams' employer) called Sergeant Moriera to complain about the
police assaulting Williams. Sergeant Moreira told Mr. Guerrero to bring
Williams to the station for a formal interview. When Williams returned,
he was asked why he ran away from the police and Williams stated he
didn't want to be locked up. He was also asked if he wanted to make a
complaint about the police, and Williams refused. Mr. Guerrero then
offered to pay half of the fine owed by Williams, who was to pay the
balance by working for Mr. Guerrero. Both Mr. Guerrero and Williams
then left the station.
Sergeant Moreira further stated that at the time of the alleged
police brutality involving Denfield Williams, the San Pedro Police
Department did not have any patrols in that area. The last time that SP
police reported having any contact with Williams was on January 19th,
2004 when officers conducted a search on Williams in the presence of
Pedro Caliz, a well-known construction worker. Nothing incriminating
was found on Williams' person, so he was released.
On February 4th, 2004, at about 8:20 a.m. Roberto Guerrero visited
the station and reported that when he visited his property that
morning, (situated four miles north of San Pedro Town), he found
Denfield Williams in an unconscious state. Williams was taken to the
San Pedro Health Center for treatment. San Pedro police officers
arrived at the Health Center to investigate, and after observing the
man, discovered no visible marks or injuries on Williams' body.
Denfield Williams was then transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial
Hospital in Belize City where he subsequently died two days later.
Sergeant Moreira told The San Pedro Sun that he does not condone
any type of wrongdoings by his police officers, and that reports made
of inappropriate police actions will be thoroughly investigated.
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